Dear America’s Got Talent, I’m feeling duped. I love your show. I really do. Seeing ordinary people who lead ordinary lives sharing talents that amaze us and stories that inspire us makes us believe that anything is possible. When we’re able to watch someone who has overcome the most difficult of circumstances, or who finds […]

Yesterday, a friend shared with me a story that concurrently broke my heart and infuriated me—that of her beautiful daughter’s superficial boss stating that if the young lady wanted to keep her job, she needed to lose weight. The boss—a woman—went on to say more things that are so cruel, so vicious that I can’t […]

When people share information that’s actually misinformation: how to avoid the internet scams. Social media can be a double edged sword. Sometimes it’s a convenient source of information, and a great way to share slices of life with family and friends. Other times, it can be a nightmare as people fall for scams, misleading and […]

It’s overwhelming to see the number of people—both men and women—who are now coming forth and sharing their stories about unwelcome sexual advances of the high powered politicians and Hollywood moguls for decades upon decades. And it’s also infuriating to see the victims of these crimes being blamed, or questioned for their motives (citing financial […]

One more post re the whole NFL/national anthem protest issue. Think about this, the very words during which some are locking arms and taking a knee: “And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE. Oh, say, does that star spangled banner yet […]

Finger pointers. We all know them. They’re the folks who navigate through life fumbling through mistakes and avoiding the repercussions. No matter what happens, it’s not their fault. It’s his. It’s hers. It’s someone else’s. It’s the result of an unfortunate childhood, faulty parenting or challenging life circumstances. It’s an unreasonable boss or an incompetent […]

For over 15 years, I’ve been immersed in the world of art and artists, including the conception, curation and execution of exhibitions. During that time, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many extremely talented artists. I’ve also been witness to the less glamourous facets of art exhibitions, particularly those which are juried. While one would […]

Some people see challenges as opportunities to create drama. They’re the folks who go through life portraying themselves as perpetual victims, blaming others for their circumstances, however massive or trivial such may be. They share their tales of woe with anyone who will listen—or feign to listen—whether strangers or friends. And in an odd sort […]

Roger Staubach, Hall-of-Fame football player and former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, once stated, “There are no traffic jams along the extra mile.” It’s that road less traveled that passes by the doubters, the naysayers and the folks who have no intentions of looking beyond the status quo. It extends past the “that’s the way […]

Honoring the fallen As you stand amidst the undulating sea of red, white and blue, you see a young mother with small children, kneeling at a gravesite, her hand atop a tombstone and head bowed. You see parents weep openly at the site where their child has been laid to rest, far too soon. You’ll […]

“Can I buy you a cup of coffee? I’d like to pick your brain.” It’s an inquiry that many creative professionals hear countless times every week. Much like artists, musicians and chefs who frequently are asked to donate their talents for a myriad of great causes, those who provide creative services such as advertising, marketing, […]

It’s one of the world’s premier events for entrepreneurs. New Orleans has been hailed as one of the most creative cities in the world, and deemed by Inc. magazine as the “Coolest Startup City in America.” The latter is just one of many titles bestowed upon the Crescent City, joining a long list of honors […]

There’s a change in the air, and it’s electrifying. Today is International Women’s Day, and all month long we are celebrating Women’s Empowerment Month. It’s probably safe to predict that 2017 will be the Year of the Woman. In 2016, we celebrated the nomination of a female as the Democratic candidate in the Presidential election–nearly a […]

  When my siblings and I were growing up, “Please” and “Thank you” were mandatory parts of our vocabulary. On the rare occasions we asked for a favor, or assistance, never, ever, would we have done so without the former of the two pleasantries. And when someone did something nice for us, gratitude was second […]

“Art is a nation’s most precious heritage. For it is in our works of art that we reveal to ourselves and to others the inner vision which guides us as a nation. And where there is no vision, the people perish.”    ­­ ­–Lyndon Johnson, on signing into existence the National Endowment for the Arts   Dear […]

  In memory of a leader who made the world a better place.

  I find it concurrently intriguing and baffling how two people can read the same news or social media post and interpret it in entirely different ways. There has never been a greater example of such than the recent presidential election and the polarization which has followed, including the most recent “Meryl Streep vs. Donald […]

Dear AT&T, I think it’s time for me to break up with you. I’ve tried to stick it out, really I have. But this latest report of data breaches, the need to change passwords and your impossibly unfriendly website, plus lengthy yet futile conversations with your service reps have left me quite weary. So it’s […]

Where has all the kindness gone? The past year has been filled with so much sadness, anger and divisiveness—no need to detail such here—and I think that many people have forgotten how important it is to simply be kind to one another, even when they disagree. Civility costs nothing, and respect is everything. I think […]

Dear America, Stop it. Just stop it. To the Hillary Clinton supporters who are part of the riots including violence and vandalism, stop it. I get that you’re upset and angry and scared. I understand the depths of your despair and your concerns about what this means for America’s future. But breaking storefront windows and […]

If there are a few lessons we’ve learned from this election, it’s that we should never say never. For the first time in history, we saw an opportunity to vote for a woman representing one of the two primary parties. We saw a man who never held public office running for the highest office in […]

  President Princess. It has an interesting ring to it. In yesterday’s post, I spoke of taking my granddaughters with me for the 2016 presidential vote. I wanted them to be part of this historic event, marking the first time that a woman was one of the two major party candidates on the ballot. I […]

The 2016 presidential election has been one for the record books in so many ways, turning this country into what one could describe as the Divided States of America. But despite the accusations, however unfounded, the name calling and the scandals-du-jour, several undeniable truths make this a race that will go down in history. First, […]

Sometimes you can fix things. Sometimes you can’t. Either way, you’ve got to move forward.

It is with much trepidation that I share these thoughts, as I suspect they may not sit well with some folks. And that’s okay. My heart aches deeply for the people of Louisiana who are suffering in the aftermath of what is being called the worst natural disaster since Hurricane Sandy. The images being shared […]

Why would anyone want to live in Louisiana? That’s the question that many seem to be asking. Why would anyone want to live in a place that continues to flood and destroy so many lives? To those who feel the need to ask this, just know that you might as well just stick a knife […]

On August 6, 2016, a part of New Orleans’ musical soul died. That’s the day legendary musician Pete Fountain was called home. Though he had struggled for over a decade with health issues, his passing was unexpected. And it sent shock waves throughout the community. In a city filled with musicians, Fountain was considered one […]

How is it possible to feel like your heart is breaking and be incredibly uplifted all in the same moment? This afternoon, I had the good fortune to see Gleason, the documentary about former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason, who is living with ALS. The experience brought a rollercoaster of emotions, ranging from lighthearted […]

  What has become of our America? Too many divides. Too much finger pointing. Too much “Us vs. Them.” Too many people who feel like their voices aren’t being heard, that they don’t matter. Too many who feel that they are the targets of malice and hatred, based on the color of their skin or their choice […]

Give Peace a Chance. This morning in Baton Rouge, six more law enforcement officers shot. Three, fatally. How many more must die before we stop the madness?  

I once shot and killed a man. It was in the late ’80s, during a women’s gun safety program called “Lady Beware,” offered by local law enforcement officers. While the course included training as to how to clean, hold and fire our weapons, the most impactful part of the program was the series of situations […]

This morning, it was announced that Idea Village CEO Tim Williamson made the difficult decision leave the company he founded to accept a position as President of Nola Media Group. This letter is in response to the news, expressing sentiments that, undoubtedly, are shared by many of the entrepreneurs whose lives have been forever altered […]

  You’d have to live under a rock to have not heard of Candace Payne, better known as “Chewbacca Mom,” whose Facebook live video because an instant viral sensation. In just days, her gleeful post earned millions of views and shares which translated into over 800,000 Facebook followers, and ultimately broke Facebook records for the […]

Ahhhh, dance recital season. It’s a phenomenon in and of itself. After all the months of chauffeuring the little ones to lessons and costume fittings, portrait sessions and final practices, the big day arrives. The payoff. The showcase of all of the children’s efforts, in a splendid, splashy spectacle for all to enjoy. As the […]

Public Relations Society of America/New Orleans 2017 Fleurish Award of Excellence recipient/Blog Post If you ask any New Orleanian to name the city’s greatest music ambassador, the response you’re most likely to hear is “Louis Armstrong.” If you ask the name of its most authentic, no holds barred, tell it like it is ambassador, those […]

Dear Louisiana Legislators, Every year, hundreds of artists and arts advocates make the trek to the State Capital to request your support of the arts, and every year, the resources continue to shrink. But today, I learned of a proposed amendment that has artists everywhere shaking their heads: artists are being asked, in effect, to pay […]

  On April 21, 2016, the world was stunned to learn of the untimely passing of iconic musician Prince. Media outlets scrambled for more information. Social media was awash in purple and Prince lyrics and memes as people tried to wrap their heads around the news of the 57-year-old Prince Rogers Nelson’s death. Celebrities weighed […]

  Here’s to the single moms, who face the world with unique challenges and rise above them like the warriors that they are. To the moms who work two or three jobs just to make ends meet, while juggling scout meetings, ball games, dance lessons and household tasks, wishing for clones who could help them […]

Here in New Orleans, we celebrate everything. We start with festivals for all occasions, with homages to frogs and alligators, gumbo and meat pies, seafood, strawberries and more. Jazz Fest is just as much Jazz Feast, with insanely delectable fare. If it rains, we don’t pack up and go home. We pull out umbrellas, don rubber boots […]

Every now and then, we stumble upon something on social media which makes us pause and chuckle. Such was the case with this gem. It’s a poem which, I later learned, was quietly penned by mild mannered photographer Paul Wood between photo sessions during one of the most hectic times of the year for his profession—Dance Week. […]